Apparatus for generating gas



Aug. 3l i926,

B. F. B, SEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR (TENERATING GAS Sheets-Sheel Filed June 26. 1920 Aug. 31 1926.

B. F. B. SEWELI.

APPARATUS FOR (IENERATING GAS Filed June 25, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 dw.. u

@N Sv ma x Aug.. 3l i926,x 1,598,39

B. F. B. SEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR UENERATING GAS Filed June 26, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I. I l

l I L Patented Aug. 31, 1921i.

UNITEDl STATES PATENT oFFlcE- I BENJAMIN F. BROOKE jSEELIJI, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

APPARATUS FOR.` GENERATING GAS.

Application filed June 26, 1920. Serial No. 391,891.

My invention relates to the generation of gas from liquid fuel, suchas fuel-oil, (crude oil, crude oil residuum, tar, pitch, asphalt, or the like), or a combination of liquid fuel and water; or liquid fuel and steam; or liquid fuel, water and steam, and one'object of my invention is to providev imp roved apparatus in which my improved method or process of generating g'as can be carried out continuouslyand automatically; 'merely requiring priming of the generator by suitable inflammable material for the commence ment of the operation, with a continuance of gas generation from' heat evolved vby le burning a portion of the gas or vapor generated. rfhe generator may be connected with the exhaustof an'internal `combustion engine which employs as its fuel the gas or gaseous vapor generated by the operation of my improved process, and this connection may be suilicient to render unnecessary the employment of any inflammable material asa priming agent.

A further and important object of my invention is to provideimp'roved means for generating a gas or gaseous vapor from oil or equivalent liquid fuel; or oil and water; or oil and steam or oil, Water and steam, which shall be available for use in internal combustion engines.

A further object of my invention is to provide means in the form of a generator that will be sufliciently flexible and automatic in its action in generating such gas or gaseous vapor as to be adapted for direct connection and combination with the engines of automobiles, and other motordriven vehicles such as tractors, road engines, locomotives, or the like, also .for

completely automatic in its action; the controlling mechanism beilfg readily adjusted motor-driven Vessels, especially those of for operation under these several conditions.

Asmay be well understood, apparatus' within the scope of my invention is capable of many practical modifications all, or most y of which, however, have the following parts tu or their equivalent for the desired purpose in common, to wit:

Means including suitable connections for delivering liquid fuel from convenient sources to one or more heated and preferably closed spaces, (for instance, retorts, pipes, tubes, Worms, or -the like), in which such liquid fuel is heated sufficiently to form the desired gas or gaseous vapor; suitable v valves for controlling the delivery and rate 7@ of ow of such liquid fuel; means whereby air may be excluded from the enclosed heating spaces during the time gas is being made therein; one or more burners which may utilize a portion of the gas or gaseous vapor generated or other suitable fuelvtol heat the enclosed heating spaces; a suitable -condensing or cleaning system to condense and permit removal from the gas of any Vapor, liquid, or foreign matter mixed or B entrained t erewith, and means to automatically control the temperature of the heating chamber in accordance with the amount of liquid fuel that is being fed for gas generating purposes.

Other parts or elements desirable for the proper operationof apparatus within the scope of my. invention, and which may be employed in carrying out my improved process, may include means for automati- 9 ,cally utilizing the ythermo-dynamic conditions, (that is, pressure, volume, and temperature) of the gas generated to govern the operation of the apparatus employed and to make it wholly automatic. In other lwords, the thermo-.dynamic condition of the gas is used (either directly or indirectly) to govern and regulate the various parts of the operating elements surrounding the enclosed heating spaces, and the like, and to um insure that a suiiicient but not excessive amount of gas is efliciently produced by the apparatus; the quantity produced automatically being determined in proportion to or in relative accordance with the amount required for use.

The various forms' of apparatus which f have devised for carrying out my improved method or Aprocess provide self-contained, self-governing, automatic machines for making gas from liquid fuel, and their arrange' my invention is primarily intended for'the generation of a gas which may be employed as an illuminating or heating medium, or as fuel for engines of the explosive type, but it will be understood that it may be advantageously employed for refining oil and for the production of various oil products.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated, somewhat diagrammatically, various forms of selfcontained and self-governing apparatus within the scope of my invention, and it will be noted that the several forms of apparatus include certain basic features, all more fully pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1, is a side elevation, partly in section and moie or less diagrammatic 'in character, of a complete, self-contained and selfgoverning gas-generating apparatus within the s .cope of myinvention. t

Figs. 2 and 3, are similar views illustrating other forms of apparatus capable of performing the same functions in a slightly different manner.

Figs. 4 and 5, are enlarged fragmentary views in elevationof portions of the strueture shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 6, is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

The gas generating apparatus shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings includes, among other elements, a suitable tank for liquid fuel, a fuel feeding device, a vaporizer, a

gasiiier, automatically actuated regulating mechanism for controlling the operation of the" apparatus, and a heating system, all as more fully described hereinafter.

While this apparatus is shown as provided with automatic regulating means, it will be understood that it, as well as the various other forms of my improved gas generating apparatus, is also designed foifmanual control, and it may be placed. in condi tion for automatic control or manual control by connecting or disconnecting certain elements of the apparatus without in any way affecting ,the operation of generating the gas or gaseous vapor, so long as liquid fuel is fed to the heating chamber. In this form of my improved apparatus, there is no admiXture of water with the liquid fuel, although it will be understood 'that I may make provision for the introduction of water with the liquid fuel without departing from my invention. In designing this form of 'the like, as above described.

rIhe tank 1, having been filled with liquid fuel may be raised by hand-crank 2 and cables 3 and 4, to the position shown in the drawing and feeds liquid fuel through iexible tube 5, past governed valve 6, adjusting valve 7 and sight feed 8, into an inner pipe 9, which extends into and passes through part of the retort or pipe 10; the lower part of which pipe 10 is heated in the manner hereinafter described. This inner pipe 9, is heated by the hot ascending gases passing upwardly through the retort, and thecool liquid fuel passing down through this inner pipe 9, is thereby heated progressively', the recuperative effect economizing fuel as well as cooling the gas. The liquid fuel is more or less vaporized, depending on the character of fuel used and the temperatures to which the same is subjected, and there may even be some gas formed in this pipe 9.

rlhe portion of the liquid fuel that is not gasied may pass from trough 13 through cross connection 14 at the end of pipe 10, pipe 15, and valve 16 to a tar receptacle 16, having inlet and outlet passages 17 and 18, controlled by valves 19, 191 and 19h, suitably -connected together for simultaneous operation so that when the inlet is open the outlet will be closed, and vice versa. The vapors issuing from the lower end of pipe 9, are

'heated by or from the hot walls of pipe or retort 10, and through this heating permanent gas is formed. By permanent gas I mean gas which is not condensed as liquid at ordinary, habitable, room temperatures.

The highly heated gas formed from the liquid fuel, which may be mixed with or may contain some vapors, (by vapors I mean gases which will liquefy or form the opaque particles of a fog at ordinary room temperature), flows in an upward direction outside pipe 9, and inside pipe 10; that is to say,

this highly heated gas flows between these' two pipes to the storage chamber. As stated above, the incoming liquid flows down` wardly inside the inner pipe 9, and the hot ,gas passing upwardly through pipe 10,

around pipe 9, is thereby cooled. Through this recuperative effect there is a saving in the amount of fuel needed to heat the retort, and that part of the apparatus used solely f for cooling the gas may be made smaller.

From retort or pipe 10, the gas passes through teei20, and valve 21, into cooling lllG pipes 22 and 23. Any suitable arrangement of cooling pipes may be employed for this purpose. rlhe cooled gas passes from pipeA 22, through pipe 24, valve 25, tee 26, pipe 27, into gas tank 28; such gas tank being shown as being filled, with the bell 30, in the act\ of rising. The parts of the' apparatus that automatically govern its operation, and which\ are actuated by the gas bell 30, will be described later.

The gas passes out of gas tank 28, through pipe 31cross connection 32, valve 33, sawdust purifier 34, valve35, and through regulating or reducing valve 36 which regulates the pressure of the gas, so that the delivery pressure always remains substantially the same. The gas that is to be used for external consumption moves past branch connections (that lead to the burners and are later described) and through L-connections 37 and 38, pipes 39 and 40, valve 4l, tee 42and out to the point of consumption.

Gas for the pilot burner 45 branches off from tee 46 and passes through valve 47 and pipe 48 to said burner. A sufficient amount of gas is always supplied to the pilot burner so that when the main burner supply is turned off, (the liquid fuel feed also being cut off), this pilot burner will remain burning. Later, as will be described in connection with the governing mechanism, a burner 49 may be turned on, vand this burner 49 is large enough to raise and maintain the temperature of the retort at the desired point in order that gas generation can-be resumed at any time. The pilot burner 45 is of minimum size in order to economize .1n consumption of gas when 11ttle or none 1s required for outside use.

Gas for a main burner 50, which is action when the apparatus is generating gas, is branched off through tee 51, and passes through governed valve 52, pipe 53, valve 54, to the burner. The governed valve 52, in the position shown, is open forthe passage of gas to the main burner 50, since the parts of the apparatus are shown in the relative position they assume vjust after the commencement of the gas generating period. The hot combustion gases from the burner 50 pass into chamber 55, surrounding the hottest part of the retort and travel upward through spaces 56 and 57, and out through smoke-stack 58.

As stated, with the parts of the machine in the relative position shown, the valve 52 controllingthe main burner ,50, andthe valve 6 controlling the liquid fuel feed have just been turned on. These valves may be turned on by suitable means actuated by lows:

When the bell reaches the position shown,

the descending bell of the gas tank as fol-4 a lug 60 has ,just engaged roller 6l,` so asto depress levers 62 and 63, and the depression of these levers'causes a weight 64 to throw over centre that is to say, to overbalance, pulling link 65, and buffer 66' may be employed to engage a lever 72a and close a valve 2b in a pipe vline 73, leading lfrom a tee 74, to the burner `49, and additionally it moves a ybell crank 75. The angular motion imparted to bell-crank 75, as shown, moves a rod 76 so as to open a damper 77 in stack 58. When the damper is closed, only enough airis pulled in by the draft to support combustion of the gas burnt by the burner 49.

The apparatus, as shown, is operating at full capacity. A little while before the gas bell 30 has reached its upper limit of travel, the lug 60 has engaged a roller 80, and raises it so that weight l64 is thrown over centre?7 again; but this time it is thrown over in a direction opposite to that set forth above. This time link 65 together with a bu'er 81, are pushed against stop 82, and the rod is depressed. This causes the governed valves 6 and 52, to close, and the damper 77 to be almost closed. The apparatus now is shut down, except for the pilot burner 45, which is stilllit.

If at this time there should be little or \no consumption of gas, then the bell 30 would practically remain full of gas; the only thermal loss being the amount of gas ,f supplied to pilot burner 45, which is ofl -fminimum size and practically negligible.

After the apparatus has been shut down for a while with the regulators in this position; the consumption of gas, however, continuing, the bell will have fallen again. But some time before the bell reaches the position where the lug 60 engages roller 6l, a lug 600 on the opposite side of the bell has engaged a catch 601, pivoted at 602 to a lever 603 pivoted at 604, and said lever 603 is thrown outward; pulling chain 605, which opens valve 72" in pipeline 73, so that gas may be supplied to burner 49. This burner 49 yis sufficiently large to vwarm up the retort befre the bell reaches the position to operate the necessary connections whereby the liquid fuel 4feed and supply of gas to the main burner 50, are turned on. The pipe 73 also contains a stop valve 73a.

The handle 608 of the lever carrying the 4weight 64 may be used to operate the governing mechanism by hand; valve 72b, .in pipe line 73, of course, also being opened -L'by hand in accordance with the requirements` of hand operation.

When fixing or adjusting. the sawdust purifier, gas tank and governing parts of the machme, gas may continue to be supplied directly from the retort. .Under such conditions valves 35, and 41, are closed, and a valve 85, in the inlet pipe 27 is also closed. After this, a valve 86 in thepipe 24, beyond the tee 26, is opened, and the gas may be by-passed through said valve 86, tee 42, and a pipe 87, for consumption.

Any tar or/other impurities which may be entrained with the gas passing to pipe 24, may be drawn ofil through pipe 88, to a tar receptacle 166, having inlet and outlet passages 177 and 188, respectively; controlled by valves 199,199 and 199, suitably connected together for simultaneous operation so that when the inlet is open the outlet will be closed, and vice versa. Provision is also made for easily (and with minimum loss of time) burningoff any carbon deposit that may adhere to the inside of pipes 9 or 10. The valve 21 is closed, and valves 16, 83 and 84, may be opened sufficiently for this purpose. Any tar accumulating in the sawdust purifier may be removed through a goose-neck trap 88, Whose outlet 89 is controlled by a valve 89.

The apparatusshown in Fig. 2, is quite similar in construction and mode of operation to that shown in Fig. l, except that it is simplified by the omission of the extra burner required for the greater low load thermal efiiciency that is possible with apparatus of the character villustrated in Fig. 1. It dalso involves certain other details which will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter. The relative position of the various parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, is that assumed when the machine is generating gas at full capacity. In this view, 1 and 1, designate, respectively, reservoirs for liquid fuel and water, and as above described, such 4liquid fuel may be fuel oil, crude oil, crude oil residuum, tar, pitch, asphalt, and the like. A

The tank 1, (having been previously filled with liquid fuel and raised by a hand-crank.

2 and cables y3 and 4 to the position shown),' feeds liquid fuel through flexible `tube 5, adjustment valve 7, sight feed 8, into the inner pipe 9, which extends into and passes through part of the retort or pipe 10, the lower part of said latter pipe being heated in the manner hereinafter described. This inner pipe 9 is heated by the hot ascending gases in' the retort, and the cool liquid fuel passing down through this inner pipe'is thereby heated progressively; the recuperative effect economizing fuel as well as cooling the gas.

From tank' 1 warmed water passes down through pipe 11, past governed valve 12, and past other valves similar to those in the liquid fuel line and into the inner pipe 9;'

past governed valve the water and liquid fuel, flowing through this pipe together. These liquids are more or less vaporized, depending on the liquid fuel and the temperatures to which the combinedfurnishing part of the heat used to gasify.

the liquid fuel. Any excess may run 0H through overflow 18 and away from the machine through a suitable pipe, such as indicated at 19.

The vapors issuing from the lower end of pipe 9, are heated by or from the hot walls of pipe or retort 10, and through this heating permanent gas is formed.

he highly heated gas formed from the liquid fuel, which may be mixed with or may contain some vapors, flows in an u wardly direction outside pipe 9 and insi e pipe 10, that is to say, this highly heated gas flows between these two p1pes to the storage chamber. As stated above, the' incoming liquid flows downwardly inside the inner pipe 9, and the hot gas passing upwardly throu h pipe 10 around pipe 9 is thereby cooled. hrough this recuperative effect there is a saving in amount of fuel needed to heat the retort, and the part of the machine used solely for cooling the gas may be made smaller.

From retort or pipe 10, the gas passes through4 tee 20 and valve 21, into cooling pipes 22 and 23. Any suitable arrangement of cooling pipes may be used for this purpose. The cooled gas passes from pipe 22, through pipe 24, valve 25, tee 26, pipe 27, into gas tank 28. This gas tank is shown as being filled and the bell 30 is in the act of rising. The parts of the machine that automatically govern its operation, and which are actuated by the gas bell 30, will be described later.

The gas passes out of gas tank 28, through pipe 31, cross connection 32, valve 33,- sawdust purifier 34, valve 35, andv through regulating or reducin valve 36, which regulates the pressure o the gas, so that the delivery pressure always remains substantially the same. The gas that is to be used for external consumption moves past branch connections (that lead to the burners) y and through L-connections 37 and 38, pipes 39 and 40, valve 41 tee 42, and out to the point of consumption.

` Gas for the pilot burner 45 branches oil from tee 46, and passes through valve 47l and pipe 48 to said burner. A suficient amount .of gas is always supplied to the pilot burner so that when the main burner supply 'is turned ofi" (the liquid fuel feed also being cut of),this pilot burner will maintain capacity ;l so much so,l that if more gas is the temperature of retort 10a, in orderpthat gas generation can be resumed at. any time. Gas for the main burner 50a which is used when the machine is generating gas, is branched ofi' through tee 51a and passes through governed valve 52a, pipe 53, valve 54a, to the burner. The governed 4valve 52L in the position shown, allows gas to pass to the main burner 50el since the parts of the apparatus are shown in the relative position they assume just after the commencement of the gas generating period. These burners, together with the liquid fuel residue burnt in the trough 17a furnish the hot combustion gases that heat the retort 10a. rlFhese gases pass into chambered space 55a surrounding the hottest part of the retort and travel upward through spaces 56a and 57a and out through the smoke stack 5,8%1.

As stated, with the parts of the machine in the relative position shown, the main burner 50a and the liquid fuel feed have just been turned on. They are turned on by suitable means actuated by the descending bell 30 of the gas tank, as follows:

1When the bell reaches the position shown, a lug' 60a liasjust engaged roller 61a, so as to depress levers 62a, and 68L and the depression of these levers. causes a weight 64a to throw over centre, that is to say, to overloalance; pulling link 65, and buffer 66a, against stop 67a. By means of a connection 68a, an angular motion is imparted to a bell-crank lever,69a which raises a rod 70a, and this action opens valve 6a, in the liquid fuel line, and valve 12a in the water line. Simultaneously, by means of a rod 71a, valve 52a in the gas line is opened.` rlhe raising of rod 71zi moves a bell-crank lever 7 8a which may be employed to actuate a bell-crank lever 79 through a rod 7 4a, and operate the valve 16. The angular motion imparted to bell-crank lever 79a, as shown, moves a rod 'aso as to open a damper 77a in stack 58a. When this damper is closed, only enough air is pulled in by the draft lto support com-l bustion of the gas burnt by the pilot burner 45a.

The apparatus is shown in the position assumed when operating at' full capacity. The gas tank, as indicated by the position of the bell, still has vconsiderable reserve required than can be made in the retort, then the machine is in position to deliver suchv peak demand foi` a short While, due to this reserve capacity of its gas tank.

lut normally, when the apparatus is producing, its production is greater than the demand, and the bell rises. A little while before the gas bell 80a, has reached its upper limit vof travel, the lug 60a has engaged is again thrown over centre but this time itis thrown over in a direction opposite to that set forth above. This time link 65, together with buffer 81a, are pushed against stop 82a, and the rod 70a is depressed. This causes the valves 6a, 12a and 52a to close, and the damper 77a to be almost closed. The apparatus is now shut down except for the pilot burner 45a, which keeps the retort sufficiently hot so that the gas making can be .resumed whenever this should be required; that lis .to say, when the gas tank again reaches its lower limit of regular travel.

Provision is made for easily (and with a minimum loss of time) burning off any carbon deposit that may adhere to the inside of pipes 9DL and 10a. The valve 21a is closed, and valves 16h, 83EL and 84a may be opened sufficiently for this purpose.

When xing or adjusting the sawdust purifier, gas tank and governing parts of the machine, gas may continue to be supplied directly from the retort. Under this condition, valves 35a and-11a, are closed, anda valve 85a, in the inlet pipe27a is also closed. After this, a valve 86a in the pipe 24a, beyond the tee 26a, is opened, and the gas may be by-passed through said `valve 86a, tee 42a, and a p ipe 87a for consumption.

In Fig. 2, four pipes are shown in crosssection; three of which are for the purpose of carrying away from the immediate vicinity of the generator-any tar thatmay be formed. Pipe 19a has already been referred to and its function described; pipe 90 is for the purpose of carrying 01T any tar, which for any reason may inadvertently run into the fire-box; such pipe being lprovided with a funnel 90a whereby any discharge from the fire-box may be directed thereto, and pipe 91 is to carry olf any liquids that may condense in the part of the apparatus in which vapors carried with the gasare condensed to liquid when the gas is cooled. Pipe 92 is employed to carry warm water to the household using the apparatus.

Tater is warmed in tank 1a, which may be heated or warmed by the hot combustion gases from stack 58a. These hot combustion gases travel in the path indicated by the iet arrows and the water in the relatively shallow trough travels in the opposite. direction. In the tank there lare a series of4 by the quantity of water that is withdrawn through pipes 11a and 92. Water enters the tank4 1 at the end opposite the pipes l1a and 92, and the inlet may be controlled by a ioat-feed device, (not shown), if the household is equipped with running Water or, if on a farmiwhere usually no running water `is provided, water may be poured in as convenient or necessary. Compartment 95 of the tank is the warmest; compartments 96 and 97 are intermediate, and compartment 98 is the coldest. The bai'l'les between the several compartments are indicated at 99 and 100. Suitable insulating covers 101 and 102, may be employed with the water heating tank.

The heat contained Iin the combustion gases, which would otherwise be'lost, may be utilized to heat this tank, and if at 4any time hot water is desired when the retort ,is not in full action -'and generating gas, or if a larger` amount of extra hot water is Wanted, then the opening 105 under Ithe tank may be utilized. This opening is provided with a cap or cover 106, which may be swung down, and after a burner 107 is turned on and the gas ignited, this burner, which may be pivotally hung at 107, may be swung up into place within said opening `105, just below the tank, so that the water therein may become quickly heated to the desired temperature.

The structureshown in Fig. 3, constituting a further modification of my invention, includes the same elements specified as being common to the several modifications all as more fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, 1b and 1 designate, respectively, reservoirs for Water and liquid fuel; such liquid fuel being fuel oil, crude oil, crude oil residuum, tar, pitch, asphalt, or the like. Valves 110 and 111 are arranged in a `pipe line 112 which supplies air pressure from a suitable source uponthe water and fuel; the valves being arranged to regulate and maintain a constant pressure. Thef amount of pressure required will vary; in some instances being relatively slight and depending, in some measure at least, upon the size and capacity of the apparatus.' A.' heating and generating chamber is provided by the retort wall 113, having a door' 114, leading to a burner compartment 115, and by opening-this door 114, a gasoline torch or the like may be inserted to start the apparatus. For the purpose of supplying fuel' for the operation of the apparatus, an auxiliary tank 116, receiving liquid fuel from the main reservoir 1, via a pipe 117,

uid fuel may be maintained at a constant level by a fioat 119.

Pipes 120 and 121, having stop valves 122 and 123, connect the compressed air pipe 112, with the main water and liquid fuel reservoirs 1b and 1, respectively.l Similarly a pipe 124, valved at 125, connects the main valved at 150 and 151, respectively.

auxiliary vfuel tank with the pipe 130 providing the vaporizing chamber 131; the pipe 133 discharging therein through a port 135. The liquids in the auxiliary reservoirs or tanks 116 and 126 are kept at a constantA level by fioats 119 and 136, respectively, so that the amount of liquid fed into vaporizing pipe 130 therefrom increases when the pressure drops in this vaporizing pipe; the air` pressure supplied being constant.

The vaporizing pipe 130 is maintained in a highly heated condition by a heating system; the arrangement, operation and regulation of which will be later described, and the water passing into vaporizing pipe 130 through port 129 from pipe 127 is evaporated and in the form of superheated steam moves past the inlet port 135 of pipe 133. The fuel passing into the hot vaporizing pipe 130 through port 135 meets the superheated steam and is more or less completely vaporized; a condition depending upon the nature of the liquid fuel and the temperatures obtaining.

Dependeiit upon the temperature, the fuel and steam vapors react chemically more or less with one another and form a gaseous mixture which passes a tee connection 137, thence through a pipe 138 and enters the end of a pipe 139. The mixture, now in the form of a fixed gas, passes@ out of the vaporizing and reaction-chamber 131 through pipes 139 and 140; the former lying within the pipe 130 and connected in axial alignment with the tee connection 137. The mixture continues on its way through pipe 140 into a cooler and separator 141, and through pipe 142 toa scrubber 143; which elements are preferably set in close proximity to the main and auxiliary reservoirs or tanks 1c and 116, containing the liquid fuel, in order to keep the same warm and quite fluid.

Some of the heat contained in the l gaseous mixture may be utilized to heat the water in the auxiliary reservoir 126, by passing it through a jacket or casing 144 surrounding said reservoir, via a valved connection 145 (as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3). Any vapors that may condense in the separator 141 or in the scrubber 143, may be withdrawn through pipes 146 and 149, suitably The separator and scrubber may also serve as water reservoir 1b with an auxiliary water tanks or reservoirs for holding a supply of mesme gas under pressure, by providin the inlet pipe 140 leading to the cooler an separator 141, and an outlet pipe 152 leading from the external use may pass through a pipe 157 and an adjustable Valve 158 to a pipe 159 having a reducing valve 160, whereby the pressure ofthe gas is reduced to a substantially constant amount; thence passing to a storage or delivery tank 161. Between the two valves 158 and 160 there may be tapped od from the pipe 159 a small pipe 162, which communicates with a special regulator 163. By means of this regulator, a valve 164 located in the pipe 159a may bey gradually, but never completely, closed whenever it is attempted to withdraw from the generator more gas than it should deliver for external consumption; thereby insuring the passage of sufficient gas to the burner 156 at al times.

Another re ulator valve 165 maintains the pressure in pipe 159, just beyond this valve and between valves 164 and 165 substantially constant. Between the valves 160dand 165, I place a special regulator valve 167, which may be actuated by a diaphragm pressure regulator 168. The space above the diaphragm in the pressure regulator 168, communicates through a small pipe 169 with the storage or delivery tank 161. When the consumption of' gas increases, the ressure in the deliver tank is communica to the space above t e diaphragm of the pressure regulator 168, and the valve 167 automatically opens to a greater extent. In this way more gas is allowed to ass for external consumption; always subject, however, to cer-- tain limitations so as to insure against too much being taken which, as already .eX- plained, is revented by the controlling valve 164. fter leavin this valve, the gas passes through an a justable valve170 into tank 161, and through another adjustable valve 171, to a reducing valve 172, which reduces it to substantially constant pressure for consumption, passing finally through a delivery controlling valve 173.

Any gas employed for consumption by the burner 156 to heat the generator, may be conveyedV by a pipe 174 branching oli' from pipe 157 Vthrough a reducing valve 17 5, thus reducing the pressure to a substantially constant one inthe pipe 174. From pipe-174 there is taken al constant supply ofgas through a ipe 176, adjusting valve 178, pipe 179, and s op valve 180, to the burner 156; being joined in said pipe 179 by gas flowing through a pipe 181. The burner 156 may also be supplied with a varying amount of gas through said pipe 181; such gas passing a regulator valve 182. This regulator valve 182 maintains the pressure substantially constant in a pipe 183, disposed in line and in cominunication-withpipe 17 4, that is to say,

it prevents it from dropping below a certain point. l Between -the two lregulator valves 175 and 182, a special regulator valve 184, and stop valve 185 are located in the pipe 183. While my present apparus will operate without the use of the two pressure-` maintenance valves 164 and 182, I prefer to use them. 4

- The valve 184 is operated in al simul`k taneous or interlocking manner .z'with the special regulator valve 167, so that the opening and closing of these two valves occurs substantiallyl at the same time, and so that the intermediate positions of the two valves are in a special and fixed regulation to one another. In other words the burner 156, may be supplied first with a fixed amount of gas and then with an additionalamount of gas, dependent upon the amount of gas taken from the generator and substantially proportioned to the amount of material (water and liquid fuel) fed to the generator,

Betweenthe regulator valves 182 and 184,'

the stop or controlling valve 185 is placed.

When necessary or desirable, such liquid fuel or the residuum therefrom as may not have been vaporized by thettime it reaches.

the tee connection 137, may be withdrawn therefrom through an apertured plug 186, and pipe 187, and passed to a tank 189. The tank 189 ma contain means, such as a iioat 190, controlling the outlet so that liquid products therein may be automatically withdrawnthrough a pipe 191, valved at 192, or they may be passed through a pipe 193 having an vadjustable valve 194, and stop valve 195; to the burner 156. These liquids are substantially proportional to the amount of liquids fed to the generator, and they thereforefluctuate in amount.

The hot combustion gases from burner 156 pass upward into the chamber formed by the retort wall 113 of the generator and irst heat a cap 196, and pipe 138. Then the hot combustion 'gases travel past tee 137, and at the point .197 they shouldbe joired by waste heat and hot gases, if such are available; the hot gases from an engine exhaustf198 for instance, if the gas developed by the generator should be employed to runl agas engine. The products of combustion, waste gases, pass on their way, heating pipe 130 and may be discharged through an outlet 200.

In additionv to and in some cases in lieu of employing a lvalve of the character illustrated at 52, iii Fig. 1, to.control the supply of gas to 'the inain bur-ner, I vmay employ a throttle valve 201, having an operating lever 202, to which is connected an operating cord 203, which passes over a guide pulley 204, and is connected at 205, to the end of a lever 206, pivoted at 207, all as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The lever 206 carries a Weight 208 so as to lie normally in the position indicated in the drawing, with the end of the lever in position to be engaged by the lug 600 so as tofbe moved when the bell rises.

This throttle valve'201 is open when the bell starts to rise and is gradually closed as the gas tank or `shell fills with gas. `When I use the throttle valve 201, I prefer to operate the governed valve 72 inthe pipe line l7 3 supplying gas to the intermediate burner 49, in such a manner that the gas is turned on as described but that it is not turned off until the bell reaches the upper limit of its travel.

In the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, I have illustrated the use of a meter 210, or similar device, indicated by dotted lines and also shown in Fig. 5, which may serve as a motor. The inlet 211 and outlet 212 of this meter, in communication with the pipe 53 are shown directly adjacent a valve 213 in said line, and said inlet and outlet are provided with valves 211a and 212, respectively. By means of suitable gearing, indicated at 214, the action of the meter is transmitted to a suitable pump, diagrammatically indicated at 215, and designed to pump oil from a feed pipe 216,'or other source and` deliver the same to the feed line for 'passage through the valve 6, and thence to the retort pressure in the pressure-distributing system, of course, would serve the same purpose as the varying pressure in the delivery-tank 161 in that it would va'ry the opening of the two valves 167v and 184; the actuating members of which are shown as lbeing linked together.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for producing a fixed gas, the combination of a heating chamber from -\,which the air is excluded, means for feeding liquid fuel thereto under pressure, means for maintaining an approximately constant temperature in said chamber for vaporizing and gasifying said liquid fuel therein, means for increasing the temperature of said chamber in accordance with the amount of fuel treated, and means for withdrawing unvaporized fuel products from said heating chamber which have not been vaporized and utilizing the same to produce additional heat. l

2. In self-governing apparatus for producing a fixed gas, the combination of a gasifying chamber from which air is excluded, means for feeding liquid fuel thereto under pressure, means for maintaining a high temperature in said chamber and gasifying the liquid fuel fed thereto, automatic means for varying the amount of heat supplied to said chamber in accordance with the amount of fuel treated, means for collecting and cooling the gas thus formed, and means for withdrawing ungasified fuel products from said gasifying chamber and utilizingthese products to produce additional heat.

3. In apparatus for treating liquid fuel in lieu of delivery from the tank 1 via pipe ,for the production of a fixed gas, a source The amount of oil delivered by the pump 215 is in direct proportion to the amount of gas delivered for consumption 'by the main burner.

The result of this throttle control is such that at various intermediate loads, the retort will generate gas at capacities about as in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3. Dependent, however, on the relative cubical measurements of the bell 30, (Fig. l), and of the delivery tank 161, (Fig. 3), respectively, there will be more or less lag; but essentially the effect of these two methods of governing may be identical at intermediate loads. However, it is also clear that a pump, the fuel-feed in the form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, is more positive, and that the thermal eiiiciency at low loads, is greater in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

In connection with the structure shown in Fig. 3, a pressure-distributing system may be used as a substitute for the delivery-tankA 161 as part of the regulator; individual house-governors taking the place of the valve 172 shown in Fig. 3, in the main gas line, which valve 172 reduces the gas flow to substantially constant pressure. Thewarying of liquid fuel, means for subjecting such liquid fuel to pressure whereby it is caused to iiow to a heated space or zone from which the air is excluded, means for heating such space to effect vaporization of the fuel, means for withdrawing from such heated zone the unvaporized products, means for subjecting the gaseous vapors to additional heating, and means for cooling and collecting the gas thus formed.

4. In apparatus for treating liquid fuel for the production of a fixed gas, a source of liquid fuel, means for subjecting such liquid fuel to.pressure whereby it is caused to flow to a heated space or zone from which the air is excluded, means for heating such zone to effect vaporization of the fuel, means for withdrawing from such heated zone the unvaporized products, means for ,subjecting the gaseous vapors to additional heating, means for cooling and collectin the gas thus formed, and means for simu ,taneously and proportionally varying the -liquid fuel feed and the additional heatlng.

5. In apparatus for treating liquid fuel for the production of a fixed gas, asource means. for withdrawing from such heated zone\\ the unvaporized products, Ameans for subjecting the gaseous vapors to further heating, means for cooling and collecting the gas thus formed, and means whereby the various regulating elements aresimultaneously actuated or operated toregulate production in accordance with the demand.

6. In apparatus for treating water and liquid fuel for the production of aJ fixed gas, the combination of means for subjecting said water and liquid fuel to pressure whereby it is caused to .flow to a heated space or zone from which the air is excluded, means for heating such zone to effect vaporization of the water and fuel, means for withdrawing from' such heated zone the unvaporized products, means for subjecting the gaseous vapors to further heating, means for varying the heat supplied in accordance with the amount of liquids fed, and means for cool/ing and collecting the gas thus formed.

7. In self-governing apparatus for treating water and 'liquid fuel for the production of a xed gas, the combination of heating means, means for subjectin said water and liquid fuel to pressure `w ereby it'is caused to flow to the heated space or zone from which the air is excluded, means for heating such zone to effect vaporization of the water and fuel mixture, means for withdrawing from such-heated zone the unvaporized products, means for subjecting the gaseous vapors to further heating, means for cooling and collecting the gas thus formed, and means simultaneously actuated or 0perated to regulate production in accordance with the demand.

ulate 8. In apparatus for producing a fixed s, the combination of a heating cham er, means for heating the same, va vaporizin chamber from which air is excluded; sai vaporizing chamber having passages providing for the iiow of gaseous vapor 1n more than one direction, means for introducing water under pressure to said vaporizing chamber wherein it is evaporated to steam, means for introducing liquid fuel to said vaporizing chamber under air ressure whereby such steam may comming e therewith; said heatin operation continuingv until a complete'mixture of the steam and vaporized fuel has taken place, means for further heating the vaporous body whereby a fixed gas is produced, means for finally cooling and collecting the as, and means for withdrawing .unvaporize lproducts from the heated zone.

9. In apparatus for producing gas, `the combination of a heating chamber, means for heating the same, a vaporizing chamber from which the air is excluded, said vaporizing chamber having passages providing for the flow of gaseous vapor in a plurality of directions, means for introducing water under pressure to said vaporizing chamber wherein it is evaporated to steam, means for introducing liquid fuelto said chamber under pressure whereby the steamy generated may commingle therewith, means for further heating the vaporous body, means for removing` the unvaporized products from said vaporizing chamber and utilizing said products as fuel, means for nally cooling and collecting the gas, and means whereby the various regulating elements are simultaneously actuated or operated to regroduction in accordance with the demand.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

BENJAMIN F. BROOKE SEWELL.- 

